New procedure areas provide cutting-edge care options

As the construction continues on the new patient tower at the Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis campus, the former ambulatory surgery and endoscopy areas in the first-floor outpatient area undergo a facelift that’s more than skin deep.

In December, a new hospital department will open for patients having outpatient endoscopy or interventional radiology procedures or surgery. The benefits of this combined unit include a more streamlined delivery of care for the patient and enhanced staffing coverage for these surgery services. The unit will have five endoscopy rooms, 16 pre- and post-surgery rooms and several pre-op exam rooms, all in one general area. Surgery patients will be transported to the second-floor operating rooms by the elevators located in the unit.

The new organization of these services will provide patients with more of a small clinic experience,with the benefit of being cared for at a full-service hospital. Patients can register and have their pre-op examination, procedure prep and post-procedure recovery all in one location. Private pre- and post-procedure rooms are arranged in small pods with a central nursing station, keeping nursing staff close to patients. Patients and families can even talk to a financial counselor if they desire, without leaving the first-floor department.